Onan Starter

[Ken H.]

Just had a call from John Beaver. We'd tried very briefly to crank the
Onan during our "rescue" at Kerry's. When the starter just went "uhh", we
went on to more important tasks.

Today John used a wrench through the front shroud to turn the engine over,
confirming it is free and has compression. Jumpering a good battery to the
starter still yielded "uhh", so he pulled it for a bench test. There, it
barely turns over.

So, Y'All please refresh my memory about 6 kW Onan starter availability:
Is it available, where, how much, and wasn't there a more common
application for it?

Ken H.

 

[Carl Stouffer]

> Just had a call from John Beaver. We'd tried very briefly to crank the
> Onan during our "rescue" at Kerry's. When the starter just went "uhh", we
> went on to more important tasks.
>
> Today John used a wrench through the front shroud to turn the engine over,
> confirming it is free and has compression. Jumpering a good battery to the
> starter still yielded "uhh", so he pulled it for a bench test. There, it
> barely turns over.
>
> So, Y'All please refresh my memory about 6 kW Onan starter availability:
> Is it available, where, how much, and wasn't there a more common
> application for it?
>
> Ken H.
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Jim K has them on his site, both new and rebuilt. I just had one rebuilt locally for $88.18. Works beautifully (and looks god too).

--
Carl Stouffer
'75 ex Palm Beach
Tucson, AZ.
Chuck Aulgur Reaction Arm Disc Brakes, Quadrabags, 3.70 LSD final drive, Lenzi knuckles/hubs, Dodge Truck 16" X 8" front wheels, Rear American Eagles,
Solar battery charging. GMCSJ and GMCMI member

 

[Ken H.]

Thanks, Carl,

We're glad to hear you were able to get it rebuilt locally. We've got an
old-time carb & ignition shop here (50+ years with the present operator &
50+ with his predecessor) where it will go on Monday. I just wasn't sure
the parts were available.

Ken H.

>
> Jim K has them on his site, both new and rebuilt. I just had one rebuilt
> locally for $88.18. Works beautifully (and looks god too).
>

 

[Carl Stouffer]

Hopefully it will not be a problem for them They put a new solenoid on mine, and cleaned up a rusty brush holder (it looked like it got water in it
at one point) and made it look and perform like new again. The field and armature were good, I'm not sure whether they replaced the brushes or any
bearings or not.
--
Carl Stouffer
'75 ex Palm Beach
Tucson, AZ.
Chuck Aulgur Reaction Arm Disc Brakes, Quadrabags, 3.70 LSD final drive, Lenzi knuckles/hubs, Dodge Truck 16" X 8" front wheels, Rear American Eagles,
Solar battery charging. GMCSJ and GMCMI member

 

[jim miller]

> Hopefully it will not be a problem for them They put a new solenoid on mine, and cleaned up a rusty brush holder (it looked like it got water in it at one point) and made it look and perform like new again. The field and armature were good, I'm not sure whether they replaced the brushes or any bearings or not.

A worn bushing (bearing) in the starter nose is a notorious source of problems for the Onan starter; I have replaced many of them. The symptom is exactly as the OP described - the starter goes “ugh” “ugh” and draws tremendous amounts of current while not producing any meaningful rotation.

Other than that...cleaning the solenoid contacts and commutator and inspecting/cleaning brushes and holders are about all one needs to do to make one of these run like new.

—Jim

Jim Miller
1977 Eleganza
1977 Royale
Hamilton, OH

 

[Ken B]

I have had 2 rebuilt locally. He had the parts in stock including the gears and bushings. It was not expensive.
--
Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana

 

[Ken H.]

I'm sure Charlie Smith will be able to fix it. I just had him refurbish a
455 starter for the exorbitant price of $34.95. It must have been in
really bad shape because the one about 6 months ago only cost $30.00.

Ken H.

>
> > Hopefully it will not be a problem for them They put a new solenoid on
> mine, and cleaned up a rusty brush holder (it looked like it got water in
> it at one point) and made it look and perform like new again. The field
> and armature were good, I'm not sure whether they replaced the brushes or
> any bearings or not.
>
> A worn bushing (bearing) in the starter nose is a notorious source of
> problems for the Onan starter; I have replaced many of them. The symptom is
> exactly as the OP described - the starter goes “ugh” “ugh” and draws
> tremendous amounts of current while not producing any meaningful rotation.
>
> Other than that...cleaning the solenoid contacts and commutator and
> inspecting/cleaning brushes and holders are about all one needs to do to
> make one of these run like new.
>
> —Jim
>